Colorado State volleyball ranked 12th in preseason poll

That’s why even though Penn State will be starting either a freshman or redshirt freshman at setter this season, the Nittany Lions are still considered the top team.

For a program-record fourth consecutive year, the Kentucky volleyball team will begin the season ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s preseason top-25 after the Wildcats earned a No. 15 ranking in the poll released on Wednesday. STANFORD was the highest-ranked Pac-12 team, coming in at No. 2 with six first-place votes, while WASHINGTON was 10th. The Badgers are tied with Big Ten Conference foe Nebraska in the fifth spot as four Big Ten teams are ranked in the top 10 while nine conference teams are ranked or receive votes. The only other nationally ranked opponent on the Rainbow Wahine schedule is No. 20 UCLA, which plays Hawaii September 6 in the Hawaiian Airlines Classic. The Rams have been either ranked or receiving votes in the preseason poll all 19 seasons that Head Coach Tom Hilbert has been at the helm.

With 919 points, BYU is the only WCC team in the preseason top 25.

Defending national champion Penn State, earned the top spot in the poll with 54 first-place votes. Also returning is senior outside hitter Brittany Howard, who is a three-time all-conference selection and a Final Four All-Tournament Team performer.

WKU kicks off the season on August. 28 at 2013 National Runner-Up and 2014 Elite Eight participant Wisconsin. Also in the field are Oregon State and Wichita State. For season ticket information, call (402) 280-JAYS. Penn State opens the tournament by taking on Buffalo on Friday evening at 7 p.m.in Rec Hall.